Fall in our new home

Hello, are you enjoying fall? We are still in the hotel :(, but moving into our new home soon. Sunday we took a drive out to the house and took Bella walking in the surrounding fields. Isn't it a gorgous area? It's hilly though and I'm not used to that after living in LA.

These wild pear and apple trees are everywhere-you can enjoy a snack on your way!

This is the front of the house, it too, sits on a hill. The back yard is huge and I already scored free flower pots for it. I will tell you soon how to get free stuff in Germany.

One of the neighbours has some Island ponies in his yard. Bella just looked at them, not sure of what to make of them.

Colorful red berries on this tree. 

These apples are so sweet! The weather has been good until today, with our first day of cool rain. I hope to be back to regular blogging soon. I miss you guys!!

Until then,

Halloween decor with food

This pumpkin decor is pretty easy-print out an image of your desire, glue on pumpkin or mod podge on. Done!

Ghost cookies-just attach them to the pumpkins with wire.

These XL cookies can be made with regular cookie mix and then painted with food coloring.

Cookie as placemat decor-you can write the guests name in food coloring. Add a fall leaf and some ribbon for extra effect. To make the cookie print out a large maple leaf on cardstock and then trace it on the rolled out cookie dough with a knife. Transfer to a cookie sheet with a spatula.

Pumpkin chutney in a carved out pumpkin!

Cheers, 

Leaf & nut windcatchers/mobiles {crafting with natural materials}

Hello and Happy Fall! Today I'm sharing a leaf mobile and an apple nut mobile made of natural materials. It is super easy to make and costs almost nothing. It would make a great kid project as well. I love decorating with materials from nature, and in the fall there is an abundance of choices out there. I get ideas when I'm out walking Bella. Leaves, berries, nuts, fruit, twigs and branches are just a few favorites of mine. For the first mobile all you have to do is collect colorful fall leaves and a medium sized branch. Take some twine and tie a knot onto each leaf stem until you reach your desired length. Make 5 strings of leaves and then tie them around the twig in regular intervals. You can use twine or crafting wire to hang the mobile.

Leaves

Nuts

Chestnuts

Apples

Twine/wire

Branch

For the nut apple mobile you start with the apple, wrap twine around it and then add leaves and nuts and tie it onto the branch. You can choose how long each string is and how many across you want to do. Et Voila! When you are done using the mobile you can hang it outside for the squirrel and birds to eat. Talk about eco friendly! I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and the change of seasons. Linking up here and at Tipjunkie and Susan's.

{Decorating} Fall centerpieces with natural materials

It is time to start thinking about your fall table settings-perhaps you are having a party or family get together. Depending on where you live you are able to get the ingredients for the different pieces locally. I'm pretty exited to be in Germany and to be able to get all sorts of materials from the local fields and woods and to buy flowers in the store.

This is quite an eleaborate wreath made of berries, pine cones, and greenery. That orange paprika in the center is too funny, don't you think?

The wreath here is adorned with grapes, hydrengas, and gourds. Pretty refreshing colors I think.

Berry napkin rings and orange napkins for a pop of fall color.

This is fab for an outdoor or winter garden table. I can't wait to create my own centerpiece! How about you-what kind of creations have you dreamt up lately?

Hello Germany

Hello again my friends and readers-Willkommen in Deutschland! We have arrived safely and are finally over the jetlag-it took a while this time. The trip was very long and exhausting, but the pets have adjusted better than expected and we feel as if we were never gone. We are still in the hotel, but are waiting to sign our contract for the new house. The weather is beautiful here, a true golden October. The leaves are starting to change and there are berries, chestnuts, and acorns in abundance.

We sit on the balcony quite often drinking Latte Macchiato which is provided free from the hotel, and are watching the rabbits and birds.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued readership and comments-it does not go unnoticed. Our big 1 year anniversary giveaway will be announced on 10 October-it will be huge and I can tell you it will be crafts and Christmas themed, so you will have your prizes in time for the holidays. Whoot whoot!

I’m also debating whether to split up this blog into a personal blog and into a crafting blog. What are your thoughts? What would you like to see more of at Doberman’s by the Sea?
Until next time,